2018 Barristers’ Ball Party With A Purpose!
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Michigan Chronicle
Vol. 81 – No. 30 | April 4-10, 2018
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DPSCD’s Southeastern High School to unveil 30-foot mural with Heidelberg Arts Leadership Academy By Donald James Special to the Chronicle
Southeastern High School, which recently celebrated its 100-year anniversary, is ready to celebrate the unveiling of a new 30-foot mural at the storied school. On Thursday, March 29 (10:00 a.m.) at DPSCD’s Southeastern High, located at 3030 Fairview St. on city’s east side, school officials and the student body will join the Heidelberg Arts Leadership Academy (HALA) in unveiling the much anticipated mural. Led by the team of Anya Dennis, Keisa Davis and Charmin Archer of the Heidelberg Arts Leadership Academy, the trio worked with other Southeastern students to develop a school mural that highlights social justice solutions to the chall e n g e s and issues that students face in their neighborhood. Collaborating with noted Detroit Tony Whign muralist and artist Tony Whign, the mural, “Road to Success” represents the barriers and roadblocks Detroit teens experience along the road to graduation and young adulthood. “A public school system lacking in giving attention to the arts is disruptive to the social growth of the community,” said Whign. “Therefore, I am honored to have had the opportunity to work with HALA and the students of Southeastern High School. We need more schools to participate in programs that allow the students to work out their creative muscles. The entire process was an amazing experience and I’d love to work with the students and HALA again. Much appreciation and thanks for bringing me on board.”
The fury and the fire sparked by the
King assassination By Roz Edward “Somebody somewhere must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. … Somebody must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate and the chain of evil in the universe. And you do that by love.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Loving Your Enemies On April 4, 1968 a fury of violence erupted in more than 100 U.S. cities as word spread throughout the nation and around the world that famed civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was dead from an
assassin’s bullet. The kill shot, fired at 2:15 p.m. from a 30.06 Remington rifle, felled King as he stood on the balcony just outside of his second-floor room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. Shortly after 7:00 p.m.
50 YEARS LATER doctors at St. Joseph’s Hospital pronounced him dead, and the already tense climate of social unrest exploded in a wave of violence not seen since the Civil War. A rash of race related outbreaks and riots would leave 40 dead in its wake,
along with the arrests of more than 25,000 citizens and $65 million in property damage. King was in Memphis to work with striking sanitation workers. But only hours after the Nobel Peace Prize winner, addressed an overflow crowd at the Mason Temple Church — where he delivered the remarkably prophetic “Mountain Top” speech — he was dead. Ironic, in that the emotional tenor of that speech foreshadowed what would come later. “I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I know that we as a people will get there one day.” See KING page A2
The HALA program officially launched its pilot phase in January, 2018 in partnership with Southeastern High School, Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School, Marcus Garvey Academy and Cesar Chavez Academy East. Through these partnerships, HALA will reach more than 150 students through two consecutive 9-week in-school and after-school sessions. HALA course offerings between January and June 2018 will include: Art Through Hip Hop, Writes of Passage, and Art Speaks: Mural Project. Founded in 1986 by artist Tyree Guyton, The Heidelberg Project is a Detroit-based community organization that uses art as a catalyst to breathe new life into the community,
See MURAL page A-2
WHAT’S INSIDE
Construction entrepreneur
W. Bernard White releases milestone and legacy book
Money. B3
$1.00
City of Detroit and Magic Johnson firm to buy old State Fairgrounds land The Michigan Land Bank has approved plans to sell 142 acres of Michigan State Fairgrounds land to Detroit, and another 16 acres of the site to developer Magic Plus LLC. The Michigan Land Bank Fast Track Authority Board of Directors on Wednesday approved proposals to sell the property where the Michigan State Fair was once held to the City of Detroit and Magic Plus LLC, a company affiliated with former NBA star Magic Johnson. The proposals, once final, mean the City of Detroit will purchase approximately 142 acres of the property for $7 million and Magic Plus LLC, will purchase approximately 16 acres – primarily along Woodward Avenue – at the per-acre rate agreed upon in their Purchase Agreement with the Michigan Land Bank. The purchase of the land will allow the City of Detroit to lead the redevelopment process and do so with participation and input from the community. While the MLBFTA Board ap-
private agreement is marrying two visions for the State Fairgrounds to create jobs and provide commercial destinations for those new employees and current residents.”
Magic Johnson proved the sale, the transaction must also be approved by the Detroit City Council. Recently, City Council approved the City’s 2018-19 budget, which included $4 million from the general fund to cover the $3.5 million up front cost of the total $7 million purchase price. The remainder of the purchase price will be paid once the land is developed. City Council will vote on the pur-
chase following environmental reviews expected to take place this spring. “The historic State Fairgrounds is an important site for residents, the City of Detroit and the entire region,” said Josh Burgett, director of the Michigan Land Bank Fast Track Authority. “All parties involved have worked hard to bring redevelopment to the site and this public/
The State Fairgrounds site is one of the largest developable parcels of land in Detroit and represents an opportunity to create economic growth and continued community development. The City will explore different development options that will ensure that the project creates real economic opportunity for Detroiters and do it in a way that harmonizes with and benefits the surrounding neighborhoods. With this purchase, the city has the potential to create thousands of jobs for Detroiters, contributing to the stabilization and success of the neighborhoods. These transactions and the collaboration between the parties ensures that the site can become an asset for the local community and serve as a driver
See FAIRGROUNDS page A-2